Isaiah 52:7

How Beautiful Upon the Moutains
Christmas Message (December 25, 2022)

Oftentimes, this passage of the scriptures is used by preachers of the Gospel of Jesus Christ to refer to all Christians, including those in the five-fold ministry. The Apostle Paul spoke of this in Romans 10:15 saying:

“And how shall they preach unless they are sent? As it is written:

‘How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace,

Who bring glad tidings of good things!’”

Well, in as much as such an application is right, it is secondary. After all, following the Babylonian captivity those Jews who went back to Jerusalem to bring news of the Jewish return to Jerusalem brought good news to them. The primary application of this scripture, however, is Jesus Christ Himself. The true meaning of this passage of the Bible is referring to Christ’s birth, message (Himself), His death and resurrection.

The story of Christmas is the story of Jesus Christ. It’s not about buying and selling. It’s not about the observance of Christ-less holiday. It’s not about mere church attendance. It’s not about Christ-less merry-making. Neither is it about seasonal money-making to turn your bank account from red to black. It’s not even about traveling to visit your family member no matter how noble that might be. It’s all about the mission of Christ on earth. The birth of Jesus Christ was not an accident. It was not a happenstance. He was born for a reason. That is why we should celebrate His birth with a purpose and sober reflection. He was and is the only one qualified to be born in the manner in which He was born. No one else could have accomplished the mission that Christ accomplished. Hallelujah!

In lieu of this, the passage we read in Isaiah 52:7 tells us that:

1. His Feet Are Beautiful. God the Father has put all things under the beautiful feet of Jesus Christ. For he hath put all things under his feet.

“But when he saith all things are put under him, it is manifest that he is excepted, which did put all things under him” (I Corinthians 15:27).

“All things have been subjected under the beautiful feet of Jesus Christ. Thou hast put all things in subjection under his feet. For in that he put all in subjection under him, he left nothing that is not put under him. But now we see not yet all things put under him” (Hebrews 2:8).

All humanity will know this on the last day. We the saints, washed by the blood of Jesus, will cast our golden crowns at the feet of Jesus Christ and worship Him. I can’t wait!

2. Christ Brought Us Good Tidings (News). The message of the cross. The redemption of humanity. The reason for His birth:

“The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world” (John 1:29)

“And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn” (Luke 2:6-7)

“And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord” (Luke 2:10-11).

The message of Christmas is not some 12-point self-help do’s and don't’s or some utopian philosophy which will not only lead to hellish dystopia, but to hell itself. The good news is a Person. And that Person is Jesus Christ. Worship Him! We will one day cast all our golden crowns at the beautiful feet of Jesus Christ, for to Him all trophies belong!

3. He Publishes Peace. There is no peace with God without Jesus Christ. Christ is not only a preacher, teacher and publisher of peace, He is PEACE and the PRINCE of PEACE. He is God!

“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men” (Luke 2:14)

“Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid” (John 14:27)

“Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God” (Roman 5:1-2)

“And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!” (Roman 10:15)

 “Now the Lord of peace himself give you peace always by all means. The Lord be with you all” (II Thessolonians 3:16)

“These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world” (John 16:33)

“But ye denied the Holy One and the Just, and desired a murderer to be granted unto you; And killed the Prince of life, whom God hath raised from the dead; whereof we are witnesses” (Acts 3:14-15)

“And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven” (Colossians 1:20)

“For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us” (Ephesians 2:14).

 Religion or money offers no peace but Jesus Christ who is the PRINCE of PEACE is the only giver of eternal peace for He Himself is PEACE! There is no peace for the wicked.

4. He Brings Good Tidings of Good Things. Christ not only brought good news to the world, He is the good news. All good things come from God. We receive all good things because of what Christ did on the cross.

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“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning” (James 1:17).

“The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world” (John 1:29)

“Now when all the people were baptized, it came to pass, that Jesus also being baptized, and praying, the heaven was opened, And the Holy Ghost descended in a bodily shape like a dove upon him, and a voice came from heaven, which said, Thou art my beloved Son; in thee I am well pleased” (Luke 3:21-22)

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16).

Our message will ever be “Christ and Him crucified”. Whatsoever teaching or belief that is not in the Holy Bible must be rejected. The message of Christmas is Jesus Christ.

“Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift” (II Corinthians 9:15).

 Jesus Christ being the gift of God has brought us the good news of God’s love for all humanity, in short the entire universe.

And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.

And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.

And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.

And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.

For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.

And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,

Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. (Luke 2:7-14)

Help spread the good news. Christ is the only message. There is no other message that will reconcile people back to God.

“Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved” (Act 4:12).

5. He Publishes Salvation. As the above passage in Acts 4:12 tells us, Christ is the only Savior. Salvation is not a philosophy or some tenets of faith. Neither is it a ritual, Christmas lights, Christmas trees, other religious displays, some jargons, human works, faith-in-faith, nor is it some systems carefully crafted together by some religious gurus with long beards and special robes. Jesus didn't speak about someone else as the Messiah when He was on earth: He spoke about Himself as the Messiah. He is the forgiver of sins! He is God! Period.

“But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life. The woman saith unto him, Sir give me this water, that I thirst not, neither come hither to draw” (John 4:14-15).

The woman saith unto him, I know that Messias cometh, which is called Christ: when he is come, he will tell us all things. Jesus saith unto her, I that speak unto thee am he” (John 4:25-26).

“And the high priest arose, and said unto him, Answerest thou nothing? what is it which these witness against thee? But Jesus held his peace, And the high priest answered and said unto him, I adjure thee by the living God, that thou tell us whether thou be the Christ, the Son of God. Jesus saith unto him, Thou hast said: nevertheless I say unto you, Hereafter shall ye see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven” (Matthew 26:62-64).

Glory to God! What say you?

6. He Says to Zion. The Lord Jesus Christ speaks to the Zion of God, Jews and Gentiles alike, who have been redeemed by His precious blood. Christ is not just talking about the physical Mount Zion in the city of the great king-Jerusalem, but He is saying to His saints, rise up, bow down, and worship Me (Jesus Christ Himself), the Lion of the Tribe of Judah, shout, proclaim and say:

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“Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised in the city of our God, in the mountain of his holiness. Beautiful for situation, the joy of the whole earth, is mount Zion, on the sides of the north, the city of the great King. God is known in her palaces for a refuge” (Psalm 48:1-3).

Praise be the Name of the Lord.

7. Your God Reigns! When the Lord returns, the whole world will finally say,

“The Lord reigneth; let the earth rejoice; let the multitude of isles be glad thereof. Clouds and darkness are round about him: righteousness and judgment are the habitation of his throne. A fire goeth before him, and burneth up his enemies round about. His lightnings enlightened the world: the earth saw, and trembled. The hills melted like wax at the presence of the Lord, at the presence of the Lord of the whole earth. The heavens declare his righteousness, and all the people see his glory” (Psalm 97:1-6).

Yes, our God reigns! And let the earth rejoice!

Finally, if you’ve been redeemed and washed pure by the blood of Jesus Christ, don’t even wait till then. Let us begin now to proclaim and say,

“Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty” (Revelations 1:7-8).

Shout out,

“Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing. And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever. And the four beasts said, Amen. And the four and twenty elders fell down and worshipped him that liveth for ever and ever” (Revelations 5:12-14).

On this Christmas day and thereafter, let us proclaim and say, “The Lord reigns!” And let the earth rejoice! And on a personal note, (shout your name) Rejoice! Beloved, in everything you do, factor in the coming of the Lord. God bless you as you celebrate the birth of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. At His beautiful feet, we bow. Merry Christmas!

Yours in His Vineyard,

Ernest Godfrey